Insert sketches, photos, and scans from your iPhone on Mac

With the Continuity Sketch and Continuity Camera features, you can draw a sketch, take a photo, or scan a document using your nearby iPhone and have it appear instantly on your Mac, exactly where you want it—for example, in an email, note, or folder. You can also mark up a file on your Mac with your iPhone using Continuity Markup.

You can use Continuity Camera, Continuity Sketch, and Continuity Markup with your iPhone and a Mac.

Before you begin

Make sure of the following:

Both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® turned on.
You’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
Your devices are within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other.
Both devices meet minimum system requirements for Continuity Camera, Continuity Sketch, and Continuity Markup.

If you’re using a VPN, make sure its configuration doesn’t prevent local networking, as that may interfere with some Continuity features.

Depending on where the photo or scan is inserted, you can mark it up or adjust other aspects, such as crop it or apply a filter.

Insert a sketch, photo, or scan from your iPhone

You can draw a sketch on your iPhone and have it appear on your Mac with Continuity Sketch, or take a photo or scan a document on your iPhone and have it appear on your Mac with Continuity Camera.

On your Mac, Control-click where you want to insert the sketch or photo—for example, in an open window, like a note or email message.
You can also Control-click the desktop or a folder in a Finder window.
Choose an option from the pop-up menu.
You may need to click “Insert from iPhone or iPad” before seeing the options.
Do any of the following:
- Add a sketch: On your iPhone, draw a sketch using your finger.
- Take a photo: On your iPhone, take a photo, then tap Use Photo or Retake.
- Scan a document: On your iPhone, scan a document. Your iPhone detects the edges of the document and autocorrects any skewing of the image. If you want to adjust the area included in the scan, drag the frame or its edges. When you’re ready, tap Keep Scan or Retake. You can continue to scan documents until you’re done, then tap Save.

On your Mac, the sketch, picture, or scan appears in the location you chose in step 1. If you added it from the desktop or a folder, it appears as a file.

Depending on where the photo or scan is inserted, you can mark it up or adjust other aspects, such as crop it or apply a filter.

To use a scanner with your Mac, see Scan images or documents using a scanner and your Mac.

Note: Scans you take on your iPhone aren’t saved on the device.

Use your iPhone to mark up a file on your Mac

Use your iPhone to add text, make drawings, rotate, and crop images, PDF documents, and more on your Mac, called Continuity Markup.

On your Mac, click the desktop to open the Finder.
Control-click the file you want to mark up, choose Quick Actions, then choose Markup.
The file opens.
In the toolbar, click or click 👁 The Markup button
(the button may have an arrow next to it), then choose your device.
Use the Markup tools to draw, add text or shapes, and more.
When you’re done, tap Done on your iPhone.
To save your changes, click Done on your Mac.

If Continuity Camera, Continuity Sketch, or Continuity Markup aren’t working:

Make sure you’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
Make sure that your devices are within 30 feet (10 meters) of one another.
Make sure your device meets minimum system requirements for Continuity Camera.

URL: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/insert-sketches-photos-and-scans-on-mac-iphd2f17b95e/ios